COVID-19 Related Update for DDA All-Staff

Developmental Disabilities Administration

March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Related Updates

Good Afternoon DDA Team Members,

As we experience daily changes in the way we work and how we provide services, I have provided an update below.

Day-to-day communication

Many of us are in routine and frequent meetings and calls occurring between the incident command centers, DSHS and between our HQ, regional, and facilities' leadership teams.  We are committed to keeping communication lines open and will communicate changes to you via email, webinars, or phone calls as we are able.

Teleworking

All employees that can work from home, should. Employees identified as high risk have been approved to work remotely. IT is working with staff to ensure those without laptops have one issued. Staff are being set up to access necessary applications to support remote work.  Over the next week we are identifying the minimum staffing needed to meet the objective to have a majority of staff working remotely while meeting our business needs and keeping our offices open to serve the public.

Waiver and State Plan Services

State Plan amendments and appendices to waivers for Home and Community Based Services were submitted to CMS. The requested flexibilities are needed to support staff, clients and providers during this period of public health emergency. We have also implemented updated policies that support telephone assessments to reduce face-to-face interactions with clients. It is important to note that one of the reasons this was done is to reduce the number of people entering a client’s home or residential setting to reduce the likelihood of introducing an illness to the client.

Policy was implemented to help ensure the continuity of care when community residential or service providers are unable to complete training, certification or fingerprinting. Communication on additional flexibilities will be issued in a management bulletin.

Maximizing facility & acute hospital capacity

In order to free up acute hospital beds DDA is working as quickly as possible to safely transition individuals medically ready for discharge from community hospitals to contracted community residential, SOLA, or other long-term care settings.

Some clients may not be able to transition immediately into a long-term community residential option. DDA will be using physical capacity at Rainier School for temporary respite stays. This is in response to the Governor’s charge to create capacity in community hospitals.  This move will not impact client transition plans for long-term community residential options.

As we continue to keep pace with this unprecedented public health crisis, we are forced to quickly develop new and innovative ways to do business. It is not business as usual. We are defining new services, new ways for reimbursement, and even new provider types.

As always and through it all DDA remains committed to our mission, vision and values in supporting people with developmental disabilities. We are also committed to the public health systems that serve DDA, the types of providers delivering those services and the importance of messaging strategies around protecting service and residential providers from exposure and spread of illness.  This includes advocating for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in situations where it is recommended by the CDC/DOH.  

These are unprecedented times that are impacting our work and our personal lives.  Yet, DDA staff and providers alike, have risen to the occasion, made adjustments, and have remained committed to our mission and values through it all.  We know this crisis has not run its course and we will continue to face challenges in working with our clients and providers.  I am confident that together we will continue to keep the needs of our clients first and foremost in our service delivery. 

Thank you for your continued commitment and service. 

~ Evelyn